Bir ds of A n da luc i a
Autumn 2013
Volume TWO, issue four
Steppe birds, last haven in Southern Spain
Flyway of the Mediterranean
Guy Mountfort´s Doñana
The Quarterly editorial journal of the andalucia bird society
1
Front Cover Photograph
In this issue....
News from the Editor - Brenda Jones
We have introduced this Notice board to keep you up to date with what happens in the ABS Committee. I hope it is informative for you and that you like the idea.
I would like to thank our advertisers and authors most sincerely for their contributions to this edition
of Birds of Andalucía. Without you, there would not be a magazine. Thank you all. We hope you enjoy
reading the articles.
Robert Wright
Affiliated Members are
important supporters of
the Society and we are
encouraging them to tell
us more about the services
they offer, with a full page of
their details on our website.
Hopefully, this will increase
their profile resulting in other
member groups becoming
more aware of the services
being offered.
David Hird
Some of our members were
present at this year’s annual
Bird Fair at Rutland Water in
August. As a result we managed to gain not only a few
more members but were also
able to spread the word about
the Andalucia Bird Society
to a wider circle of birders
interested in Spain. So, if you
are reading this magazine as
a non-member then why not
come and join us.
Frank Hair
Our Field Meetings continue to be very popular with our
members so we have published a 12 month Field Meeting
calendar to help you to plan your diaries. We endeavour to
explore all the provinces within Andalucía so that we experience
the whole of the region, but if there is somewhere that you would
like us to go that is not in the calendar, please let us know.
For your information
Despite the cut backs within
Migres Foundation last year
they are still involved in migration counting at all their usual
Observatories between Algeciras and the Tarifa area. They
started the autumn migration
count at the Cazalla Observatory on July 22nd.
Pieter Verheij
The Society continues to attract
new members each month
and sometimes each week. To
make it easier to join, we have
simplified the joining process
with the introduction of a new
"Joining Form" on the website.
It can be found by pressing the
new "Join ABS Now" button.
Helen Wallbank
The AGM was held on the
20th July at Finca Alqueria
in Ronda. The meeting was
well attended and we are
extremely happy that we
could welcome 35 of our
members. There were some
very interesting discussions
about a variety of subjects.
Some members volunteered
to assist the Committee
taking over some work. Lucy
Alio to translate texts to
Spanish and John Brooks to
help with the description of
Birding Sites in Andalucia.
We are happy with all the
help we can get. Do you want
to help with something?
Andalucia Bird Society Quaterley Magazine
Officers of ANDALUCIA BIRD SOCIETY:
President: Alfredo Carrasco
Chairman: David Hird
Treasurer: Pieter Verheij
Secretary: Helen Wallbank
Membership Officer: Robert Wright
Field Meeting Officer: Frank Hair
Editor: Brenda Jones
To learn more about the society’s activities visit our website: www.andaluciabirdsociety.org
Contact
Contactusus
Andalucia
AndaluciaBird
BirdSociety
Society
Apartado
ApartadodedeCorreos
Correos375
375
29400
29400Ronda
Ronda(Málaga)
(Málaga)
Spain
Spain
E-mail:
E-mail:[email protected]
[email protected]
Advertising
Advertising
Contact
Contactthe
theSociety
Societyforforadvertisement
advertisement
1/4
1/4page
page€ € 4545
1/2
1/2page
page€ € 8080
Full
Fullpage
page€ €140
140
Back
Backpage
page€ €180
180
2
2013
2013Membership
MembershipFees
Fees
Individual
Ordinary € 25
€ 25
Couple
€€
3030
Joint
Affiliated
Affiliated € €4040
Corporate
€ €6010
Junior
Life
€ €300
Life
300
2
Notice Board
Important dates for your diary
ABS September Field Meeting
3
4
Polygynandry 8
Steppe Birds, last haven in Southern Spain
10
Sierra de Andújar, looking for Iberian Lynx
12
Flyways of the Mediterranean, 2 corners, 2 million birds
14
Photos with a story
16
Migration time is here ...
18
Guy Mounfort’s Doñana
20
My Local Patch - Olvera, Cadiz Province
22
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
is a member of the Recurvirostridae family. The scientific name Himantopus comes from the Greek
meaning “strap foot” or “thong foot”.
Photo courtesy Pieter Verheij
DID YOU KNOW?
The Osprey’s ability to hunt is affected by wind or rain, which ripples the surface of water and makes fish invisible
from above. Also the underside of its toes have small spiny scales and the outermost toe on each foot can be held
forwards or backwards. Both features help it to more easily grip a fish.
Important dates for your diary
Attendance of all Field Meetings and meetings are free to members of Andalucia Bird Society.
October 19th 2013 - Field Meeting La Laguna Grande, Jaén province
The lagoon is south west of Baeza and 8km from Jaén. The meeting will start at 09.00hrs from the Hotel Hacienda La
Laguna and it will be led by José Luis Sánchez, ABS member and Wildlife Guide. You may need warm clothes and
will definitely need to take a picnic lunch.
November 16th 2013 - Field Meeting Ventas de Zafarraya, Granada/ Málaga provinces border
The meeting will start at 09.30hrs from the Mirador of Ventas de Zafarraya, on the A402 road and will be led by
Bob Wright ABS member. A picnic lunch will be necessary and possibly warm clothes and sensible walking shoes,
though the walks will be easy along tracks.
December 14th 2013 - Llanos de Libar and Christmas lunch, Málaga province
The meeting will start at 09.30hrs from Venta la Vega, on the Ronda to Sevilla road, A374, and be led by Peter Jones
ABS member. Lunch will be at 13.00hrs sharp at Hotel Al Lago, Zahara, where there will also be a Christmas market
taking place. You will need very warm clothes, hats, gloves etc as it could be very cold.
January 18th 2013 - La laguna Fuente de Piedra, Málaga province. Presentation of Financial Accounts.
The meeting will start promptly at 09.00hrs and be led by David Hird, Chairman of ABS. There will be 2 hours of
birding, followed by the Presentation of Financial Accounts at 11.00hrs in the Visitors Centre. Lunch will be taken
in a venta in the nearby village, and then more birding afterwards back at the lagoon. It can be frosty at La Laguna
de Piedra at 09.00hrs!
NOTE: Please could you let us know if you are attending any of these meetings, via email or the forum, as we
need to know numbers beforehand if possible. Thank you. More details of meeting places on the website and
forum.
3
of the morning. Unfortunately, the weather
was not suitable for raptors or storks to
attempt to cross to Africa but there were
birds flying along the coast, usually into
the wind. Cazalla was very exposed and
the wooden shelter provided very little
shelter from the wind. Telescopes had to
be constantly held in case they were blown
over and if they were used to view birds at
a distance they were almost useless due to
the wind moving them about.
The Booted Eagle was the most numerous
species. We saw about thirty birds, all
were light phased birds and most were
Booted Eagle - Photo by Pieter Verheij
A startling thirty nine members attended
this Field Meeting, which is the largest
number of attendees that we have ever
had. In fact I still remember the days
when we would have being thrilled with
thirty nine members.
The group was so large that we decided
to split it into two groups. Nineteen went
with Frank Hair as their leader and twenty
one with Bob Wright. Frank started at the
Cazalla Observatory above Tarifa, then
went to the hide overlooking Los Lances
beach just to the west of Tarifa and then
onto La Janda. Bob did the reverse.
The weather was warm with a temperature
of about 24C, but when we started at
09:30 there was about a 70% cloud cover
and a wind that was blowing from the
east at 24kph with gusts reaching 32kph.
The cloud cover reduced during the
morning but the mist in the Straits that
was obscurring the coast of Morocco
remained.
The Frank team headed to Cazalla Bird
Observatory above Tarifa arriving at
about 10:00am. We parked our cars and
remained on the Migres side for the whole
4
adults. Fortunately, lots of them came
quite close as they battled with the wind
through the valley below us. This enabled
new members of the Society to learn
quickly how to identify them and they
were soon shouting “Booteds” to point
them out to the rest of us.
Other species that we saw in largish
numbers were Black Kites and Griffon
Vultures, and we saw about twenty birds
of each species. We also saw Egyptian
Vultures and were able to see adult, subadult and juvenile birds. Again we saw
about twenty birds.
In between watching raptors Pallid Swift
(3), Barn Swallow (6), Red-rumped
Swallows (12) and Spotless Starlings
(30ish) flew past like jet rockets. Blinked
and you had missed them. There were
also two adult Ravens playing in the wind.
Actually, watching the larger birds flying
into the wind you had the impression that
most of them were enjoying themselves.
There were only a few who landed and
gave up their struggle.
Other raptors we saw were sparrowhawks
and strangely these were all male birds. We
also had magnificent views of Short-toed
Eagles showing their white underparts as
they banked in the wind. Honey Buzzards
were also present in small numbers. We
Egrets. Running along the back edge of the
pool were a gang of Sanderling. Most were
in their very light grey winter plumage but
several were still in their brown summer
plumage. Between the hide and the pool
there was a single Kentish Plover, also in
winter plumage and to its right was about
twenty, feeding Ringed Plovers. Among
the Ringed Plovers was a single Dunlin
that showed a plumage in between its
summer and winter attire. On the left
side of the pool were two Oystercatchers,
both in winter plumage. Feeding among
the short, dry grass behind the hide were
several Yellow Wagtails of the sub species
flavissima, which is the bird from Britain.
Walking back to the cars we spotted
Stonechat, House Sparrow and Cattle
Egret among some horses.
At about 14:30 we set off for La Janda and
used the entrance opposite the Zahara de
la Atunes road junction on the A7 to enter.
The plan was to follow the track down to
the main drainage channel and follow
the track westwards along the drainage
channel until we could turn south and
follow the track back to the A7. When
we all gathered on the entrance track we
were dismayed to find that the wind felt
stronger in La Janda than it had at Tarifa.
The strong wind did affect the birding as
most of the birds were sheltering on the
ground, usually out of sight. However,
we were welcomed by an adult female
Marsh Harrier flying low overhead and
three Black Storks flying across the wind,
which could have been the same birds we
saw earlier. On our way down to the main
drainage channel we also spotted a Serin
and a few Crested Lark on the ground.
Sheltering on the far side of the main
drainage channel we quickly found a
Squacco Heron crouching among the
dried vegetation. In the distance on other
Audouin Gull - Photo by Pieter Verheij
ABS September Field Trip
Tarifa and La Janda
also had an unidentified large falcon,
which we suspect was an Eleonora’s but
were far from certain due to us only seeing
it briefly.
Three Black Storks made an appearance
from the direction of La Janda in the west.
Before they got to us they turned round
and flew back to La Janda.
At about 13:00 we decided that we were
not going to see anymore new species and
headed to the hide at Los Lances beach.
This entailed driving towards Algeciras
for about 3km to the Mirador del Estrecho
to turn round as the A7 was too busy to
cross at Cazalla and it is also illegal.
We parked our cars at the Service Station
beyond Tarifa and carried our equipment
and lunch across the road and down the
kilometre track to the hide. We arrived at
the hide at about 13:30 and fortunately it
did provide some shelter from the wind,
which was just as strong at sea level as it
was in the mountains above Tarifa. This
enabled everyone to enjoy their picnic
lunch while observing the birds and the
many wind surfers beyond.
The hide overlooked a large shallow pool
that was created by the río Jara trying to
flow to the sea but, as the tide was out, its
progress had been halted by a sandbank.
At the far side of the pool were about a
hundred gulls. Most of them were Yellowlegged Gulls, but there were a small
number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls and
to one side were seven adult Audouin
Gulls. In front of the gulls were four
adult Sandwich Terns in winter plumage.
Feeding in the pool was a juvenile, light
grey, Greater Flamingo, an adult Grey
Heron and eight Black-tailed Godwits in
winter plumage, although a couple still
had a tinge of the orange plumage of the
summer in their feathers. Feeding in the
river flowing into the pool were two Little
5
Advertisement
Bob Wright’s group found a Jack Snipe among them but despite
intensive searching we unfortunately could not find it. Ruff were
also feeding in large numbers and there were about a thousand
Glossy Ibis feeding among the rice. They were easily spooked by
the Marsh Harriers gliding above the rice, which caused a black
cloud as hundreds of birds arose into the air at once. There were
also Shoveler and Garganey feeding. The male Garganey birds
Common Snipe - Photo by Pieter Verheij
side of the channel we estimated that there were about fifty
White Storks standing in the fields. During our time in La Janda
we saw about two hundred White Stork feeding in the rice fields
and ditches.
Driving along the track beside the main drainage channel,
continually being buffeted by the wind, we also saw in the rice
fields hundreds of Cattle Egrets feeding together in large groups,
some of which were still showing breeding
plumages. There were also about fifty Little Egret,
but they were either feeding alone or in small
groups. Individual Grey Heron were also spotted,
totalling eleven birds.
Barn Swallows were one of the very few species
we saw flying and there were several hundred
of them flying about in small groups. Other
species seen flying in large numbers were Spotless
Starling, about fifty birds, and Wood Pigeon in a
flock of about eighty birds. Harriers, which were
mainly Marsh Harriers, were seen hunting by
flying low over the rice fields. Their mastery of
the conditions was impressive. Some were able
to remain stationary, looking down into the rice
whilst facing into the strong wind. We saw quite a
few females, a lesser number of juvenile birds and
a beautiful male bird. In addition we watched a
female Montagu’s Harrier in the distance.
We had hoped to see Purple Swamphen in the
reeds growing on the bank of the main canal, but it had recently
been dredged and the reeds were flattened by dredged material
that had been deposited on the bank sides. The portable watering
machinery was also constantly scanned for perched Blackwinged Kites but they were not to be seen. However, we did sees
a soilitary male Common Kestrel perched on one of the metal
electricity pylons beside the track and three Jackdaws revelling
in the strong wind.
At this stage La Janda was proving to be disappointing but then
we arrived at the corner at the far end of the track as it turned
back towards the A7. On this corner was a large sunken rice
field at it was full of sheltering and feeding birds. They were also
close so could be viewed with ease. There were about twenty
Collared Pratincoles standing at the edge of the field and some
were even on the track beside the field. There were juvenile
birds among them. There were several Green Sandpipers, and
even more Wood Sandpipers. In the centre of a large open area
stood two adult Eurasian Spoonbills. Black-winged Stilts were
there in large numbers, and Common Snipe were everywhere.
were in eclipse and were difficult to tell apart from the females.
Also there were several Common Coot, one Moorhen and four
Yellow Wagtails, again of the sub species flavissima, feeding.
While we were searching the rice field for ever more species a
Short-toed Eagle flew close behind us, as did two Black Kite but
more distanct and directly overhead flew a sub-adult Egyptian
Vulture. We were also entertained by several Zitting Cisticola
flying, or more accurately being blown about by the wind and a
Cetti’s Warbler singing from some reeds behind us.
The time was now about 17:30 and people began to say goodbye
as they started their journies home or sort a nice soft bed in a
nearby hotel. On our way out of La Janda we saw Greenfinch,
Goldfinch and Stonechat. We also saw an Osprey that flew ahead
of us from metal pylon to metal pylon as we slowly drove down
the track. Then we realised it had caught a fish and was trying
to eat its supper. We therefore left it in peace looking forward to
our supper after a long and rewarding day.
David Hird - ABS member
Book Review by Brenda Jones
Birding and Nature trails in Sierra Morena
Andalusia. 1. Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche
Authors: Rafael Romero Porrino. English translation: Dave Langlois
Publisher: Editorrial Serrania S.L. ISBN 978-84-15030-32-4
This is the first book in a series of four, and it covers Sierra de Aracena and Picos de
Aroche in the province of Huelva, north Andalucía, southwestern Spain. This area is
only one and a half hours from Doñana and is little known amongst new birdwatchers.
The book covers 17 nature trails, some for cars and some for walkers and gives you
all the details you would wish to know about the fauna, flora, accommodation and
where to eat etc. It is very well done with some excellent photographs, maps and
very comprehensive information and at 15 euros it is a very good buy.
6
7
Advertisement
Polygynandry?
Know what that is?
The Alpine Accentor is one of my favourite birds.
Small groups of them are regular visitors to the
terraces and car parks in the Sierra Nevada Ski resort,
supplementing their insect and seed diet with scraps
from restaurant tables and skiers’ packed lunches. Most
people pay no attention to the “Sparrows” but a closer
look reveals a very attractive and interesting little bird.
For a start they are true mountain dwellers, living
mainly above 2000 metres, and it can cut a fine figure in
the snow with their mottled orange flanks and streaky
black, white and grey plumage. Below the thin yellow
and black insectivores beak is an unusual white ¨Bib¨
with fine black speckles, a very distinctive feature.
Now if all this isn’t enough to set them apart then
consider their sex life. They are polygynandrous!
That is, both sexes attempt to mate with every group
member of the opposite sex, but the dominant
alpha male (usually the oldest) will often protect his
favourite females from lowly ranked males. The males
then provide food for each brood of the females with
whom they have had their wicked way with. In other
words, if there’s any chance those kids are mine then I
must pay. Very responsible behaviour I say, it is a pity
some members of our own society are not so virtuous.
Steven Powell - ABS Member
8
9
Currently, the conservation status of our “big five steppe birds” is rather difficult to
define, although all of them are considered VULNERABLE in the Red Book of Birds
of Spain (2004 Edition). These are the most important and updated estimations of
our main steppe birds in Spain:
Steppe birds, last haven in Southern Spain
It is a Sunday in the month of August,
7:30 pm, when we get into our car and
head by road to the steppes of Campo de
Calatrava. It’s just 15 minutes drive to
start birding and we know that we have
one hour, maybe a little more, to enjoy
one of the last great natural spectacles in
Europe.
We leave the road, and after about 200m
down a dusty track we start watching the
target birds of our evening excursion:
a flock of Little Bustard, over a dozen,
scamper between barley stubble in search
of the sought after cereal grains. A sudden
chirping in the air makes us look up to
see ten Pin-tailed Sandgrouse moving at
high speed, almost at ground level, before
coming to rest in a small fallow area. We
continue on our way and stop beside a
well maintained olive grove. A group of
Crested Lark fly out of the way to let us
pass. Under the shade of an olive tree rests
a panting handful (covey, in English) of
Partridge. Always cautious, the Partridge
move around the old olive tree to keep
away from us. A quick look with our
binoculars uncovers other visitors to the
site; a pair of Kestrels and an Iberian Grey
Shrike each watch us from their high
vantage points. In the distance, standing
on a pile of stones, a curious Little Owl
monitors its territory. Our 4x4 continues
and ascends a small hill, surprising a
group of Montagu’s Harriers resting in
the stubble. Some undertake a fast flight,
but a couple of females still remain in the
dry scrub. We decide not to stop the car
to avoid disturbing them. Going down
the hill we are shocked by a large flock of
Great Bustards (over 50), which take off
when they see us.
We’ve always been fascinated by these
fabulous birds that, weighing more than
16 kgs in males, are said to be the heaviest
flying birds on Earth (with the exception
of the Kori Bustard Ardeotis Kori). They
stop at a safe distance of about 600m, and
we watch them with our telescope. Near
to the Great Bustards we discover a small
group of jittery Stone Curlew. Not far from
there a shepherd directs his Manchego
sheep into the fold. The sun turns red and
begins its descent which gives us a magical
landscape, evocative and vibrant, with
10
the colours that draw the last dying rays
and the dust raised by the flock of sheep.
We decide to leave while a company of
Calandra Lark fly around us and seem
to be saying goodbye. We were unlucky
with the Black-bellied Sandgrouse, but we
didn’t mind; we’ll return another day.
With numbers dwindling in Spain, steppe
birds have one of their last great refuges
in the steppes of Campo de Calatrava
(Ciudad Real province, region of CastillaLa Mancha, just over the northern
border of Andalucía), an exceptional
area that extends to a total area of ​​8,978
ha. Becoming increasingly isolated,
threatened by numerous infrastructures
such as highways, recreational farms
and even ruinous airports, steppe birds
concentrate in small areas where they
still have a last chance for survival. Also
the new CAP (Common Agricultural
Policy), threatens them, a nonsense that
the European Union is determined to
keep, favouring the interests of large
Europeans landowners and clearly against
organic farmers and the maintenance of a
rural world that respects the environment.
Even the regional government of CastillaLa Mancha joins the harassment of our
steppe birds by joining voices that demand
authorisation for new large intensive
vineyards in our insufficiently protected
steppe areas. A bleak future for these last
treasures of our biodiversity.
But despite this, our Great Bustards, our
true winged giants, resist. At least 17 areas
with significant populations of Great
Bustards have been identified and studied
in our province of Ciudad Real, with a
total population of over 800 individuals
in the breeding season which is increased
by more than 50% in winter, when many
birds from the north of Spain fly down to
our southern winter shelters. Winter is
when the plains of Campo de Calatrava
are teeming with life, and large flocks of
Great Bustard (sometimes above 200)
may be seen with mixed flocks of Little
Bustard & Pin-tailed Sandgrouse that can
number, easily, 1200 birds, an unusual and
little studied association which can only
be admired in our La Mancha steppes,
one of the most valuable natural areas in
Spain.
Great Bustard: Spain total population
22,768 (min) to 24,493 birds (max).
Total population in the province of
Ciudad Real 800 (spring-summer) to
1,200 birds (autumn-winter). Shows a
population decline of over 30% in the
last 3 generations.
Little Bustard: Spain total population
41,482 (min) to 86,195 males (max).
Total population in the province of
Ciudad Real 9,024 (min) to 14,179
males (max), this represents between
16% and 22% of the total in Spain. Our
country concentrates about 80% of the
European population.
Stone Curlew: Spain total population
30,000 (min) to 40,000 pairs (max).
Total population in the region of
Castilla-La Mancha 10,000 (min) to
14,000 birds (max). The Stone Curlew
has declined 22.2% between 1998 and
2011 in Spain.
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse: Spain total
population 7,982 (min) to 10,972 birds
(max). Total population of the province
of Ciudad Real 1,902 (min) to 2,446
birds (max), this represents between
22% and 24% of the total in Spain.
Black-bellied Sandgrouse: Spain total population 7,824 (min) to 13,273 birds
(max). Total population of the province of Ciudad Real 375 (min) to 562 birds
(max), this represents between 4% and 5% of the total in Spain.
Below is a list, not exhaustive, of the main species, excluding waterfowl that can be
observed within the limits of the steppes of Campo de Calatrava.
Spring and summer: Golden Eagle, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Short-toed Eagle (Seen
in spring and summer = e), Montagu’s Harrier (e), Lesser Kestrel (e), Red-legged
Partridge, Quail (e), Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Stone Curlew, Black-bellied
Sandgrouse, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse , Turtle Dove (e), Great Spotted Cuckoo (e), Little
Owl, Short-eared Owl, Red-necked Nightjar (e), Skylark, Crested Lark, Short-toed
Lark (e), Calandra Lark, Bee-eater (e), Hoopoe, Iberian Grey Shrike, Woodchat
Shrike (e), Red-billed Chough and Corn Bunting.
Autumn and winter: In addition to the non-summer birds, you may see BlackWinged Kite, Hen Harrier and Golden Plover.
Other interesting birds that can be observed around the steppes of Campo de
Calatrava are: Black Stork (e) Common Crane (winter), Common Pratincole (e),
Eagle-Owl, Long-eared Owl, Roller, Blue Rock-thrush, Black Wheatear, Subalpine
Warbler, Spectacled Warbler or Green Woodpecker.
Vicente Malagón Sanroma - ABS Member
www.naturaindomita.com
11
Although birds are my primary interest,
like many birdwatchers I enjoy seeing
other forms of wildlife. Given my interest
in Spain, it was inevitable that seeing
Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus would come
high on my wish list. However, for years
I had assumed that given the animals
increasing rarity this was an impossible
dream. It wasn’t until bird watching
friends in Kent saw them that I realised
that
encountering
Lynx in the wild
wasn’t
quite
the
impossible challenge
that I’d imagined. Two
main nuclei of the
animals’ population
remain – about 25-35
in the Coto Doñana
and 80-100+ in the Sierra Morena north of
Andújar. So in spring 2013, my ambition
finally crystallised into a plan of action.
Knowing that I was going to be out in
Cadiz province in February/March 2013,
it wasn’t too hard to add a quick side trip
to look for lynx.
we had most of the first day ‘on site’, the
whole of the second day and a good part
of the third. Unfortunately, I managed to
pick a period of heavy rain, thick fog and
distinctly chilly temperatures. It wasn’t a
castanet ensemble following us around,
but my wife’s teeth chattering! Although
Lynx were seen during our stay, sightings
were brief and distinctly few, so we missed
out. Although lynx are more active during
However, whilst we’d been thoroughly
dampened in the rain of the sierra, our
enthusiasm for seeing the world’s rarest
large cat remained un-diminished. Having
been told that May was a poor month for
seeing them as the female is busy with
young and rather sedentary; we planned
our next visit for September. However,
news from a correspondent that he had
them in early May the year before we
this period – the mating season – the
short days and unpredictable weather can
play havoc with your plans. Besides, given
the nature of the terrain it’s quite possible
for one group to see a lynx whilst others,
only a few hundred metres away, miss it
entirely. It was good to see several Spanish
Imperial Eagle, Black Vulture, astonishing
numbers of Azure-winged Magpie, Rock
Sparrow and a Wild Boar, but there was
no hiding our disappointment at not
getting Lynx.
hastily re-organised ourselves to go again
in early May (4th-9th), leaving September
as a back-up. As we had allowed ourselves
four full days to find the lynx, this time we
left our base in Alcalá at a more civilized
hour and had a more leisurely journey to
Andújar. We even managed to have a look
around Osuna and La Lebrija en route to
look for Little and Great Bustards.
1 - Centro de Visitantes Viňas de Peňallano
(Km 13) has an interesting exhibition on
the wildlife and ecology (in Spanish) of the
Parque Natural de Sierra de Andjúar plus
maps, guides to the senderos (footpaths)
and books (some of which are in English).
A good place to obtain books, some in
English, maps and leaflets. (For opening
times etc check www.juntadeandalucia.es)
2 - From the visitors’ centre take the A
6177 towards Santuario Virgen de la
Cabeza, but just beyond the Complejo de
Turistico Los Pinos (a good place to stay –
see www.lospinos.es) take the minor road
on your right (signposted to Pentano del
Jándula) . This narrow tarmac road snakes
its way up into the hills with chances of
seeing Lynx increasing the further you
drive. As the road rolls up and down,
winding as it goes; the habitats vary from
open dehesa to Mediterranean scrub.
Sierra de Andújar
Looking for Iberian Lynx
In theory the timing was good as, after
they have young (in late March/April),
the females are said to be more elusive.
It’s also suggested that they tend to be
more active during the day in winter
than at other seasons. An indecently
early start from Alcalá de los Gazules, it
being a 4 hour drive to Andújar, meant
The more so since the day after we left the
area, the weather improved and our Kent
friends, out on another sortie, saw one!
However, a mix-up over the exact location
of our accommodation meant we spent
the last couple of hours of the day looking
for where we were staying rather than
for lynx. However, we once again saw
numerous Azure-winged Magpie and
heard Hoopoes all over the place.The next
morning we started our search by driving
along the rough track to Embalse del
Jándula.
If it wasn’t exactly warm when we set
off but it was at least clear and sunny. It
was good too, to actually see some of the
scenery we’d driven through in March. So
we were quite hopeful about our chances
although, realistically, we knew that we’d
be in for a long wait. With these thoughts
in mind we approached the main
viewpoint when, as we rounded a bend, we
were totally amazed to find a lynx loping
along besides the track scarcely more than
10 metres away! I called “Lynx!”, but it
seemed so unconceivable that it was one
that I almost instantly thought ‘Is it a
dog?” as I raised my binoculars. But, no,
it miraculously remained a Lynx! With
immense savoir faire it casually ignored
us as I gently swung the car to one side
to get some photos. Trotting down and
then diagonally across the track, it seemed
totally unconcerned by the frenetic
excitement it had caused. It then doubled
back across the track and climbed the
bank next to the car. It was a totally mind
blowing moment (a hackneyed phrase but
no other will do). OK, aesthetically it was
disappointing that it was sporting a radio
collar, but it was a truly wild animal. We
12
later learnt that this was ‘Dingo’ a well
known male which was, as we could see
in the photos, blind in one eye. My only
regret was that I totally forgot that my
camera has an excellent video capacity!
The rest of our stay was, understandably,
something of an anti-climax. We looked
for lynx several more times and even
missed one by a few minutes, but the
urgency had gone – we weren’t going
to get a better view! It also meant I was
able to indulge my other enthusiasm for
history and visit nearby world heritage
sites (Baeza and Úbeda).
Look too for Red Deer, Wild Boar or
Mongoose, and certainly some rather
nervous rabbits. However be prepared
to wait several hours for Lynx. Happily
you’re likely to be distracted by vultures
(Black & Griffon), Eagles (Golden and
Spanish Imperial – later in the year Shorttoed and Booted), Goshawk, Iberian green
Woodpecker, Rock Bunting, Sardinian
Warbler, Red-billed Chough, etc.
John Cantelo has been a birder since
the 1960’s. Was a Field Teacher for the
RSPB 2000-2010. Lives in the UK but
visits Spain several times a year. Junior
author of “The Nature Guide of the Andalusian Sierras.” These suggestions for
seeing Iberian Lynx are a heavily edited
version of the text from the forthcoming
“Crossbill Guide to Andalucia” (which I
am co-writing with Dirk Hilbers et al).
I also explored other areas of wildlife
interest using the excellent ”Birding
and Nature: Trails in Sierra Morena 2 –
Sierra Morena de Jaén” by Rafael Romero
Porrino (Pub. La Serrania). This extremely
useful book gives details for sites for Black
Wheatear, White-rumped Swift, Rufous
Bushchat, Little Bustard and much else.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that ducks being such gregarious birds, have evolved various
signals to ensure a flock or a pair take off together and stay close to one another in flight. When an individual is ready to take off, it signals its intention
by extending its neck and shaking its head. It may take several minutes for
the message to be passed round the members of a large flock, but suddenly,
they are all ready and take off together.
13
Flyways of the Mediterranean - 2 corners, 2 million birds
When it comes to birds, Israel and Spain
have a lot in common.
Despite the significant difference in size,
the fact that both countries are situated on
parallel latitudes and boast a wide range
of habitats contributes to their impressive
natural wealth. It is not easy to compare
the avifauna of both countries, after all
Spain is about 17 times larger than Israel,
but apart from their difference in size,
Israel and Spain are very much alike.
Besides the good food, nice beaches and
beautiful women Israel and Spain are
probably the 2 most attractive countries
for birdwatchers in Europe. The fact that
Israel and Spain are situated between
continents makes them important zootopical meeting zones. It is here that
species of African origin have a foothold
in Europe, and European species are at
their southernmost points of distribution.
This unique geographical trait shared by
both countries makes them great places
to observe fascinating families of birds of
semi desert and Steppe terrain. Nowhere
else in Europe can birders enjoy such a
variety of hard to come by groups like
Wheatear, Larks, Sandgrouse, Bustard
and more. Both countries offer visitors
a chance to enjoy these birds of African
and Asian origin alongside more familiar
European species which are represented
in the lusher habitats.
But the most important similarity
between Israel and Spain is the fact
that both countries lie under one of the
biggest migration flyways in the world.
Neatly positioned on both sides of the
Mediterranean Sea both countries are
14
world famous for their awesome soaring
bird migration spectacles. Every spring
and autumn hundreds of thousands of
soaring birds from European and Asian
populations funnel through the airspace
of both countries, on their way to and
from the breeding grounds. These soaring
birds that include White and Black Stork,
Pelican, Crane and over 20 species of
Birds of Prey rely on Israel and Spain
as land bridges. Soaring birds prefer
not to cross large bodies of water due
to lack of developing thermals and the
Mediterranean Sea is quite a serious
obstacle to overcome. In order to avoid
crossing the Med, soaring birds follow
either the Eastern flyway, over Israel and
along the Great Rift Valley to Africa or
follow the western route through Spain
southwards, and cross at the shortest
water crossing available, The Straits of
Gibraltar.
When it comes to numbers both migration
funnels hold impressive checklists.
Around 250 species of migrant birds
migrate through the Straits of Gibraltar
every season, with soaring birds
numbering well over half a million
individuals. Israel boasts an incredible
280 species of migrants and over a
million individuals are counted during
the autumn migration season. One of
the iconic species that most symbolise
migration is the White Stork Ciconia
ciconia and Israel and Spain are the best
places in the world to see the impressive
large flocks that the species is famous
for. Every summer following the
breeding season, the whole Eurasian
population of White Storks splits
into two main “streams” for their
southbound journey. Storks from
central and eastern Europe migrate
south and funnel through Israel, and
the entire west European population
of White Storks migrates south
west eventually congregating at
the Gibraltar Straits, and cross into
North Africa.
During late August and early
September a quarter of a million
White Storks pass over Israel on
their way south to their African
wintering grounds. During the
same period over 100,000 Storks gather
at the Gibraltar Straits. Another important
species that is best seen here is the Black
Stork Ciconia nigra. Around 8000 Black
Storks are counted over Israel every
autumn and over 3000 pass at Gibraltar.
Both Israel and Spain operate long term
counts and research projects on soaring
bird migration. The Israel Ornithological
Center has been actively monitoring
soaring bird migration for 30 years! The
project involves several weather radars
now programmed to detect birds in the
sky and a ground team of birders that is
deployed throughout the width of Israel
and “intercept” every soaring bird flock
that enters the airspace. The Israeli project
has two major causes, the first is scientific,
to collect data and assess population trends
in soaring birds. The second cause of the
survey is to monitor the Israeli air space
in an attempt to protect aircraft and pilots.
In the past Israel suffered greatly from
collisions with soaring birds, including
the loss of 3 great fighter pilots and over
a dozen aircraft. The Israel Air force now
sponsors the counts and we are happy to
15
Jonathan Meyrav
Israel Ornithological Center
The author is the Tourism
Director
for
the
Israel
Ornithological Center and a
full time birder. Amongst other
things Jonathan coordinated
the Northern Valleys Soaring
Birds Survey for 6 years and still
supervises the counts in Israel.
say that the survey method is fine-tuned
and the transfer of information on soaring
bird flocks in the skies is registered
very quickly. The correct collaboration
between birders and radars and with our
gained experience we have now been able
to lower our collision rates to below 2%!
Thus we are protecting both the birds and
the pilots that share the airspace.
Advertisement
In this article Juan Luis Muñoz tells some more stories behind some very
special photographs. Juan Luis is a very skilled photographer (with a pas-
sion for birds) using digiscoping techniques to perfection.
This is an amazing story. By the Guadiaro
river a Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis, came to
perch on a dead branch I was holding in
my hand, just a few centimetres from my
fingers. I could not believe it! We spent
some seconds watching each other, and
the Kingfisher flew to a tree. It recovered
from the experience, so I put the branch
where I had stood and sat with no hide.
Immediately the Kingfisher came again
and perched, now for long enough to get
many pictures, like this one, just 5 metres
from me. I did not understand it’s strange
behaviour; perhaps it was attracted to
me as I was in the river, in its territory,
or maybe it had no fear of human beings
and just perched there for fishing... It will
remain a mystery to me, but an experience
I will never forget.
In the Spring of 2006 Juan, from Algaba
Farm, in Ronda told me he had found a
Short-toed Eagle pair, Circaetus gallicus
nesting in his wonderful Mediterranean
forest. Since then, when they arrive at
the beginning of March, I watch them
from a respectful distance and I spent
one morning photographing them on
their usual perches in a secluded and
quiet valley. This picture represents the
moment the male lands on the female for
copulation; a very rare image few people
have had the opportunity to watch, let
alone photograph. Every season the pair
raise a single juvenile; they are successful,
at least for now. I really hope they keep
returning, as I feel as if they are now part
of my family!
I had been dreaming of getting this picture
for a long time. Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo, are
quite common today, but a difficult target
to photograph. I know of some pairs in
different cliffs not too far from Ronda.
They call at dusk and dawn, normally
from the same place, usually on a rock
overlooking their territory. I have tried
taking photographs several times before,
arriving before dawn, but most times
the owls were able to watch me walking
to my chosen hide-out. Anyway, I like to
put up my hide, sit and wait for any living
creature crossing in front of the cliff. That
morning the owl flew from the cliff to
satisfy it’s curiosity, and perched there for
a few seconds, just ten metres from me,
an experience I’ll never forget. It is such a
huge, powerful bird...
16
ESTABLISHED
SINCE
2005
Agencias de Viajes/Travel Agency - License No. C.I.A.N. 29913-2
www.costalessgolf.com
Tel/Fax +34 952 661 849
Fax
+34 952 587 018
Tel
Mob
+34 952 466 615
+34 650 209 446
Email [email protected]
Twitcher &
Golf Break
Formosa Park 4*
Hotel Isla Canela Golf 4*
Almancil within the Ria Formosa Nature Reserve
2 nights B/B - 1 Round at Pinheiros Altos
Based on 2 sharing 1 bed appt
Isla Canela – 30 mis to Marismas
de la Cristina Reserve
2 nights B/B - 1 Round at Isla Canela Golf
Based on 2 sharing twin room
PRICE Golfer 108€ pp Non Golfer 62€ pp
between dates
01/11/13 – 23/11/13 & 12/01/14 – 28/02/14
PRICE Golfer 86€ pp Non Golfer 54€ pp
120€ pp Non Golfer 66€ pp
between dates 01/11/13 – 13/04/14
& 21/04/14 – 30/06/14
between dates 01/03/14 – 31/05/14
To Book Email: [email protected] / [email protected] Tel: 0034 952 661 849
17
MIGRATION TIME IS HERE….
I don’t know about you, but for me at
least it seems just a short while ago that
I sat near to Tarifa watching the large exit
of raptors from Europe headed towards
the near shores of North Africa. Every
year, around the start of September, I am
either leading groups or making my own
pilgrimages to the Atlantic seaboard of
Andalusia in search of the spectacle that
is migration.
The sheer volume of birds involved in the
autumn rush to leave for warmer climes
is staggering. For the grand spectacle, the
larger migrants perhaps offer the audience
the star attraction, but to see thousands of
our smaller passerines, such as Bee-eater
Merops apiaster, forming colourful clouds
as they leave our shores is, I think, a sight
that all should witness at least once in
their lifetime.
Of course migration, whether in spring or
autumn, can bring along the unexpected
or very rare migrant. Apart from the
now regular autumn visitor Rüppell’s
Vulture Gyps rueppellii, a few autumns
ago saw African White Backed Vulture
Gyps africanus taking a bow! It all adds
to the occasion and acts as a magnet for
birdwatchers the world over.
So we can count our blessings, that we
are very fortunate to live so close to areas
where we can bear witness to one of the
natural wonders of our world. It is almost
impossible to absorb the spectacle of
this number of birds, either leaving for
or arriving from Africa, without being
curious about why and how it is all made
possible?
We are so very privileged to live in the
southern reaches of the Iberian Peninsular.
Here we are able to witness firsthand the
incredible spectacle that is bird migration.
Enormous populations of birds from
the northern reaches of Europe become
concentrated during the late summer and
autumn as they approach the short sea
crossing over the
Strait of Gibraltar.
the sun go down, small birds also seem to
see the plane of polarized light caused by it,
which calibrates their compass. Travelling
at night also provides other benefits.
Predators are avoided and the danger of
dehydration, due to flying for long periods
in warm, sunlit skies, is also reduced. An
added benefit to night migration is also
apparent when the air structure is cool
and smooth and conducive to sustained,
stable flight.
Flight gives birds the power to fly in any
direction for as long as they have the energy
to keep going. They have lightweight,
hollow bones, navigation systems that
simply defy belief, and an ingenious heat-conserving design
that concentrates all blood circulation beneath layers of warm,
waterproof plumage leaving them fit to face life in extreme
climates.
Bird migration occurs in each natural region of the world,
each country, each county and even each parish, where birds
will come and go with the seasons. Many make vast journeys
to reach their wintering grounds. Swallows, for example, may
breed and spend the summer in one place, but spend most of
the rest of the year travelling back and forth to their wintering
grounds in southern Africa..
Bird migration evolved as a way for birds to exploit resources
that are seasonally abundant and, equally important, to go
elsewhere when the resources become scarce or harsh weather
arrives. Many species can tolerate cold temperatures if food
is plentiful, but if food is not available they must migrate. I
suspect the secrets of bird migration will remain as curious
as any of life’s other unsolved mysteries. Sadly, some never
complete their journeys, but I always look forward to the
spring and the return of those who have survived.
For all the complexities of migration I consider myself lucky to
live in ‘The Magic Corridor’ that is for many European birds
the main flyway for autumn and spring passage.
Some viewing areas to watch both spring (March/May) and
autumn (August/October) migration:
Larger
birds,
such as Eagles,
migrate
during
the daytime when
they are able to
take advantage of
rising thermals
and up-draughts,
whilst many small
birds migrate at
night and take
their
direction
from the position
of the setting sun.
As well as seeing
Tarifa area: Strategic observatories can be found both east
and west of Tarifa and these are Algarrobo, Cabrito, Cazalla,
Santuario, La Peña, Puerto de Bolonia and Puerto de Facinas.
Other areas: Serranía de Ronda and Sierra de Grazalema:
Puerto de las Palomas, Sierra de Libar, Acinipo, Casares.
Peter Jones - ABS - member
www.spanishnature.com
Black Vulture, ready to cross the Strait. Photo by Pieter Verheij
18
19
In the Spring 2013 edition
(Volume Two, Issue Two) of Birds of
Andalucía, a small panel on P15, headed
‘Did You Know?’, pointed out the fact that
there is no obvious physical recognition
anywhere of the pivotal role played by
the
English
naturalist Guy
Mountfort
in
saving the Coto
Doñana back in the 1960s.
It was a timely reminder
that, but for the efforts of Guy
Mountfort and a few other key players
such as Don Manuel González Gordon
and his son Don Mauricio González
Díez, the Doñana might easily have
been destroyed by development at a
time when few people even knew of its
existence. What the short piece in Birds
of Andalucia did not mention, no doubt
through lack of space, was something that
brought the wonders of the Coto Doñana
to a significant audience, the book Portrait
of a Wilderness, published in 1958 and
written by Mountfort himself.
Portrait of a Wilderness, to quote
from the inside flap of the dustcover: ‘is
an account of the work and adventures of
three scientific expeditions to the fabulous
Coto Doñana in the wilds of southern
Spain, which took place in 1952, 1956 and
1957.’ It goes on to add: ‘The region was for
350 years the hunting reserve of the Dukes
of Medina Sidonia and has remained
completely isolated and unspoilt. It is
today the most important wildlife refuge
in Europe’. The book in its original form
is a hefty hardback of some 240 pages,
lavishly illustrated with photos, nearly all
in black-and-white, taken mostly by the
legendary Eric Hosking who was at the
time Britain’s leading bird photographer.
I am aware of the book because
my father bought it for me, way back,
as a Christmas present. Assuming this
happened in the year of publication I
would have been just eight, rather young
for such a book, so I’ve always suspected
there might have been an ulterior motive;
not that I mind that. My dad’s no longer
illustrated by Roger Tory Peterson and
with distribution maps by Philip Hollom,
both of whom were on the Doñana
expeditions. Subsequently, in 1961,
Mountfort was one of the founders of
the World Wildlife Fund, now the World
Wide Fund
for Nature. In
1970 he was
awarded the
OBE for services to ornithology.
He also wrote Portrait of a
River about the Danube Delta and
Portrait of a Desert about Azraq in Jordan.
Interviewed at the age of 94 in 2000, he
was “surprised and gratified” when he was
told that his Portrait series was among the
most frequently cited in a ‘best bird books’
debate on the UK Birdnet internet mailing
list.
Doñana is no longer quite the
wilderness it was 60 years ago but Portrait
of a Wilderness remains both a glimpse
into a strangely distant, privileged world
and a memorable tribute to the Doñana
itself. Guy Mountfort died in 2003 but
his wonderful book is still available. If
you go onto www.abebooks.co.uk and
put in the author and title, you will find
many copies available from specialist
booksellers. Prices start at about £12; add
in postage from the UK to Spain and you
are talking around £20 for the total cost.
This seems to me a very good deal for
such a classic volume, especially given the
relatively high price of even run-of-themill modern books if bought in Spain.
And meanwhile, to go back to
the catalyst for my article, what can the
Andalucía Bird Society and its members
do to push for a permanent memorial to
Doñana’s early champion, Guy Mountfort?
Guy Mountfort’s Doñana
Portrait of a Wilderness
with us so it’s too late to ask him about
that now and anyway he had already
enthused me with his interest in birds.
The book was then on his shelves for
decades until I reclaimed it and re-read
it a few years ago, having by then been to
the Doñana myself. Sadly, my father never
even visited Spain, much less the scrub,
open woodlands and wetlands of the
Parque Nacional de Doñana. He would
have loved it, despite the quirky belief he
seemed to have, which strengthened as he
got older but was usually unspoken, that
somehow birds outside the UK were not
quite as valid as those seen in the UK.
Mountfort,
an
advertising
executive in his day job, was already a
well-known ornithologist when he led
the expeditions of the 1950s. He was
the author of A Field Guide to the Birds
of Britain and Europe (Collins, 1954),
Kevin Borman - ABS Member
Sorbas, Almería
Advertisement
I
F you enjoy great birds and wonderful
natural scenery but like to do so from a
comfortable base, you need to check out
the Ronda area’s most popular awardwinning hotel., Molino del Santo.
Do you enjoy really good food, the friendliest and most helpful staff who speak English
if required and the security of knowing that 26
years of experience mean you will find your
every need has been carefully thought about?
Nestled alongside a rushing mountain stream
– where dippers, kingfishers and grey wagtails
are regularly seen, the old watermill that forms
the base of Molino del Santo is a true delight.
In the summer months you can eat on the riverside terraces at lunch and dinner time and
when it is cooler, there is a cosy sitting room
with log fires and a warm welcome.
Sorted
Are you looking for
a great base near
Ronda from which to
explore Andalucia’s
natural delights?
Where dippers dip, where grey wagtails wag,
and where griffon vultures… vultch
What do you need? Great birds all around? No
problem, from raptors to passerines you’ll be
spoilt for choice on your doorstep or step out
to see flamingoes and stone curlews, Egyptian
vultures and Rock thrush, eagle owls and beeeaters, orioles and hoopoes, amongst an impressive bird list.
You want great walking? Sorted – the hotel has
dozens of walks to recommend from half hour
routes to all day challenges. High mountain ranges or riverside strolls. Which will you choose?
Interesting things for non-birding days? Ronda is on the doorstep just 15 minutes away,
prehistoric caves to visit, Roman amphitheatres, the famous white villages all around, big
cities of Sevilla and Granada possible as day
trips. You’ll be spoilt for choice.
Excellent
Is amazing food and carefully-selected local
wine a priority for you? Molino del Santo can
tick both boxes with confidence. The menus
offer you light snacks and sandwiches to full 8
course tasting menus. People have been heard
to say eating here has been the best meal of
their lives. Excellent breakfasts are included in
room rates – or call in for breakfast if you are
in the area. Non-residents can also eat in the
hotel but reservations are often essential.
Comfortable rooms required? Look no further
– choose from four categories with B&B rates
from only 45 euros per person. Central Heating, Kettles in rooms, Air con, wifi – free of
course – and pool towels provided so that you
can enjoy the heated pool.
Excellent Food, Heated Swimming Pool and Very comfortable Rooms.
Precious
What can the Andalucía Bird Society and its members do to push for
a permanent memorial to Doñana’s early champion, Guy Mountfort?
Special assistance an issue? Not here. The hotel will do all they can to help you in any way
to get the very most out of your precious leisure time. Booking visits to local monuments,
arranging horse-riding, getting permits for
zones of limited access, ground floor rooms,
special diets... You’ll be hard pressed to hear
that they can’t help you.
H
2020
Molino
M
O T E L
del Santo
•
R
E S T A U R A N T
•
B
Need reassurance? The hotel guarantees your
satisfaction or your money will be courteously
refunded. Trip Advisor reviews rate the hotel
and restaurant number one in the area, Guide
books sing praises, 65% of visitors have been
before – some returning many times each year.
What are you waiting for?
The downsides? Firstly, there are only 18 rooms
which means you get great personal service –
but they do book early for many dates ; many
people fail to make the reservation they want
because it is too late. Check out availability at
any time by email or phone. Secondly the hotel and restaurant close from early November
to late February Don’t miss out. Plan to visit
when Molino del Santo is open.
MOLINO DEL SANTO , BDA ESTACIÓN S/N, 29370 BENAOJÁN, MALAGA Much more information on
the website : www.molinodelsanto.com - All enquiries to [email protected] or call +34 952 16 71 51.
Contact them today – tomorrow may be too late and you’ll be sorry to have missed out
A R
21
My local patch
Olvera - Cádiz province
North of Ronda lies my village of Olvera,
my local patch; from here I travel west
to Campillos and Fuente de Piedra, east
to Arcos de la Frontera, north to Osuna
and south to Montejaque. Olvera is a
large village with a population of approx.
8,500 and it lies in the province of Cádiz.
It is on the northernmost tip of the
Pueblos blancos (White villages) route
of Andalucía and stands majestically on
a hill proudly overlooking thousands of
acres of olive groves.
I am going to concentrate on Olvera
and the immediate surroundings from
the Peñón de Zaframagón to our friends’
pottery just to the south of Olvera. As the
summer comes to a close I am wondering
where our Lesser Kestrels are by now as
they left Olvera at the start of August and
will not return until the spring. They nest
in the walls of the church and castle and
you can see them whilst you are having
some tapas in the bar behind the church,
or the ones at the side of the Peñón by the
market. Café con leche and a mollete with
aceite and tomate as the Lesser Kestrels fly
over your heads or at eye level, what more
could you ask for? We have had a White
Stork around the church a few times this
summer which could be checking out
whether here would be a good nest site
for next year. We will have to wait and see.
We have a large population of both Swift
and Swallow but the House Martin seem
to prefer Pruna just to the north, where
there are houses full of nests and at the
end of the summer there are large roosts
on the cables that run along the front of
Cirl Bunting
22
the houses. We do have some in Olvera
but not as many. As the summer turns to
autumn the Hirundinidaes will be leaving,
and our skies will be the poorer for that.
The most important site close to Olvera
is The Peñón de Zaframagón, one of the
largest Griffon Vulture colonies in Europe
and home to a pair of Bonelli’s Eagle.
The Griffons are present all year round
along with Jackdaw and Spotless Starling
(very clean birds) but during the summer
their numbers are swollen by Egyptian
Vulture and Alpine Swift. The Peñón de
Zaframagón is about 10km from Olvera
by road or 15km if you walk along the Via
Verde (walking and cycling route) from
Olvera. From the viaduct which is at the
front of the Peñón you look up through
the gorge to the east side where most of
the nests are to be found. As you stand
on the viaduct the Vultures fly over your
head and then go off to find some food for
their chicks. In the visitors centre you can
watch live views of the nests in the spring
and recorded highlights the rest of the
year, at a small cost of 1€, expensive for
me though as I visit so much to see what
they have recorded since the last time I
was there!
I have also seen Crested Tit, Cirl Bunting,
Chough and Bee-eater. One day last
winter I was walking towards the visitors
centre from the viaduct and a weasel ran
out in front of me heading towards a small
bush at the side of the track. It stopped
and looked at me for a moment then ran
under the bush. A second or so later it
ran back out from the other side of the
bush behind me and back to the other
side of the track. This was the same day I
saw the Crested Tit. Another spot I visit
frequently is our friends’ house in the
campo (countryside) who have a pottery.
I spend a lot of time down there and it
is a very rewarding spot with a pair of
resident Ravens which nest in the woods
by the river. On the way down nearly
every day the Little Owl says hello from
the top of the “no overtaking” sign but he
will not stay there long enough for me to
get a photo of him.
Last winter the river changed its course
and they now have a ravine running
through the middle of their field which
was good for me as this year we had a pair
of Little Ringed
Plover nesting on
the river bank and
I spent some time
watching the parent
bird doing it’s
“chase me as I have
an injured wing”
bit.
The banks
are now steep and
sandy; a great place
for the Bee-eater to
nest which they did
(I spent a long time
in a sweaty hide but
no photos and as
you have guessed
as soon as I left the
hide they flew straight into the nest hole!
Better luck next year).
Last year a pair of Red necked Nightjar
nested somewhere near the house, and at
about 10.15pm every night you could hear
a strange noise from the cliff overlooking
the river. If you walked to the middle of
the field the bird would swoop down and
clap its wings at you until you returned
to the house, then it would vanish into
the night not to
be heard again
until the next
night. Every year
they have a pair
of Golden Oriole
that nest in the Poplars at the side of the
river and they have a fine time feeding
on the mulberries when they come into
fruit. All you see is a flash of gold and
then into the tree where they stand proud
and take as many mulberries as they can
get into their beaks and then off they go.
There are always Swallows at the pottery
but two years ago a pair of Red-rumped
Swallows took over a Swallows nest and
built an entrance tunnel on it, but it was
too late in the year for them to breed.
During the winter the House Sparrows,
which live all year around at the pottery
roosted in this nest. The next spring the
House Sparrow nested in that nest, and as
the season progressed the tunnel that had
been built by the Red-rumped Swallow
was slowly taken apart until only a small
piece was left. Whilst doing my pool
boy bit at the house next to the pottery
I heard a Sparrow screaming the alarm
call and it flew just over my head and
only a few inches behind it was a Sparrow
Hawk. They crashed into the hedge that
surrounds the pool. I was not fast enough
to run around to the other side of the
hedge to see whether the hawk caught
the sparrow, but it just shows you don’t
know when something exciting is going
to happen so keep your eyes open all of
the time.
Frank Hair - ABS member
www.birdinginspain.co.uk
The Peñón de Zaframagón
One of the largest Griffon Vulture colonies in Europe
23
Binoculars & Telescopes
Binoculars
Verano BGA HD
With a brand new optical system the Verano BGA HD delivers a
vivid ‘true to life’ viewing experience essential for accurate
wildlife observation. 100% made in Japan, the models
incorporate high quality phase corrected & Oasis coated
prisms with lenses finished in
our F-type multi-coating
to optimise light
transmission and
colour contrast.
Countryman BGA HD
With exceptional
performance in a
lightweight body,
Countryman BGA
HD are perfect for
the wildlife enthusiast
wanting high resolution,
light transmission and colour contrast
in a superbly finished compact
instrument. 30 year guarantee.
8x32 4593, 8x42 4693, 10x42 4893
New Natura BGA
Other features include class
leading 8˚ (8x32), 7˚ (8x42)
and 6.5˚ (10x42) fields of view
with or without glasses, 4-stage twist type eyecups, close
focus to 2m and a comprehensive 30 year guarantee.
8x32 5593, 8x42 5693, 10x42 5893
Featuring a tried and
tested optical system
packaged in a
brand new
double hinge
body, the
Natura BGA delivers
an unbeatable combination of user
comfort, performance and value for
under £300. 100% Made in Japan.
30 year guarantee.
8x42 3793, 10x42 3993
Telescopes
ES 80 GA ED
Benchmark 80mm ED with ‘Best in
class’ optical performance, rugged
dependability and real user comfort.
ES 80 GA ED/45 7193
Recommended Eyepieces:
HDF T 23xWW 1793, HDF T 32xWW 2093,
HDF T 20-60x 2593, SDLv2 20-60x 3793
HR ED Fieldscopes
Designed and engineered without compromise, HR ED
fieldscopes deliver exceptional optical performance
combined with sublime handling and total reliability.
Featuring a twin ED 5 element APO lens system
and the very highest grade glass components
throughout, both models offer class leading
resolution and light transmission and are
compatible with the full range of HDF and
SDL eyepieces. 30 year guarantee.
Bodies (Str or 45˚):
HR 66 GA ED 9793, HR 80 GA ED 11693
Recommended Eyepieces:
SDLv2 18-54x/24-72x 3793
HDF T 20xWW/27xWW 1793
HDF T 28xWW/38xWW 2093
Digi-scoping Kits
A quality, easy to use solution to
the problem
of choosing a
suitable digital
compact camera for
telephotography.
Prices from 2593
For more information on the full range of Opticron binoculars, monoculars, telescopes,
digiscoping equipment and accessories visit us at www.opticron.co.uk
For your nearest stockist or special offers available to ABS Members email [email protected]
Opticron. Unit 21, Titan Court, Laporte Way, Luton, Beds, LU4 8EF UK Fax: 01582 723559 Email: [email protected]
24